Well, I finally made a cover for this book, and I gotta say it took forever to get it right. I had to keep changing it to see how it looked and fit, and to be honest I'm not 100% satisfied with the result, but I do like it. I hope you guys like it, too! Here is the original...

Wasn't meant to be, I guess. And now, without further ado, this chapter!

I looked from the door to the bar, anxiously waiting for the band to take the stage. This wasn't going to be just another performance at the bar, I could feel it. Mostly because Duff was in the band and I held high expectations for him, but given that I'd heard him playing for hours on end, that wasn't unreasonable.

I looked up when I noticed a movement near the curtains. I watched as the band Duff had introduced me to an hour before walk onstage. There was Axl, Slash, Izzy, Steven, and Duff himself. I whistled and cheered with the crowd and waved when Duff's eyes scanned up and down the rows of people. They landed on me and he grinned and waved with his hand by his leg.

An introduction was said by Axl, and then they started playing. They were really good; I could tell the entire place was feeling their music. They played covers of a few songs, then a few they named as originals.

I watched with fascination as their sound rocked the place. They were all great musicians.

I kept an watch on Duff specifically, constantly watching him out of the corner of my eye. He was obviously enjoying himself, making little moves left and right that showed he was really feeling his groove.

The show was over a while later, and I watched, a little shocked, as Duff put his bass down on the stage and jumped off to join me at my table. I laughed and hugged him, happy he had chosen to come talk to me.

"Hey, Duff," I greeted, ruffling his hair a little. "Great show."

"Thanks," he said, patting his hair back into place. "Did you like it?"

"Duh," I rolled my eyes. "God, you guys sound good. Like a real band."

"Thanks a lot," it was Duff's turn to roll his eyes. "Good to know we sound like a real band."

"That's not what I meant," I laughed at his huffy attitude. "I mean... I think you guys are gonna be big. Rising stars, the 5 of you."

Duff grinned and opened his mouth to say something, but he was interrupted by Izzy calling for him to get his bass off the stage. He promised to come back, then rushed away.

I hadn't been sitting alone for long when someone else joined me. I looked up and my eyes met Axl Rose's, and he gave me a small grin.

"Hey, (Y/N). Did you like the show?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "Absolutely. I was just telling Duff how I think you guys are really gonna make it big."

"Thanks," he grinned. "I think it's just the chemistry we've got as a band."

"That and the very real talent," I said, eying him. He laughed a little and looked down.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" He asked suddenly.

"Yeah, sure," I said.

"I don't mean to... ya know... pry... and you don't have to answer, of course, but is there... is there anything between you and Duff?"

I nearly spit out my drink. "What?"

"I don't know, it just seems you guys might be into each other."

I thought about it for a moment. "I've liked him for a while, yeah, but please promise you won't tell him. I don't want to ruin things between us."

"I won't say anything," he said, shaking his head. "But to be honest, I think he likes you. He was talking about you earlier. I don't remember exactly what he said, but he was."

I processed that information for a second, then shrugged. "Probably doesn't mean anything. That Duff is a strange one."

Axl laughed. "Yeah, I know. But I think he does like you. I mean, you won't know if you don't take a leap."

"Leap?"

"Of faith."

With that, he walked away, leaving me the slightest bit confused. What was that even supposed to mean? Well, whatever. Maybe Duff liked me and maybe he didn't-- either way, I didn't want to let anything happen between us. If he became a huge rockstar, I wouldn't get to see him very often, and my money was on that potential relationship's failure.

I turned in my seat, looking around the place again. It was kind of boring just sitting there by myself, now that the band's set had ended.

My savior came a few minutes later. Duff was making his way toward me, waving to get my attention. I turned and waved back, laughing at his attempts to squeeze past people.

"Hey," he greeted, taking a seat at the table. "How are things?"

"Good," I sighed, shaking my head to clear it of the earlier thought.

"Something wrong?"

"What? No."

"Aw, come on. I know you. I know when something's bothering you, and now is one of those times. Tell me what's wrong so I can help."

"Duff." I laughed softly, a few different feelings kicking around my chest as he put a hand on mine. "I couldn't tell you if I wanted to."

"And why is that?"

"I-I just couldn't. Too many variables and unknowns." My eyes roamed the table top, avoiding looking at our hands. He moved his hand under mine and started rubbing the top of it with his thumb.

"(Y/N)," he said, "I wanna help you, but I can't if you don't tell me what's going on."

"I'm in love with you," I blurted out. "I've known since that day you tried teaching me to play the bass, but that was just the day I realized it. And I'm pretty sure you don't feel the same way about me-- why would you? Anyway, even if you did, it's not like we could take it anywhere. Soon you'll be famous and be touring all over the damn place, and I just know it wouldn't work. And that's just supposing you even like me; which by the look on your face, I'm fairly certain you don't."

He looked... scandalized. Shocked, but understanding, as if it was something he should've known but hadn't realized. His expression embodied that moment when you remember the little thing that's been playing at the corner of your mind all day, like the name of a song.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything," I said, taking my hand away from his.

"No," he said, blinking several times. "I... I had no idea you felt that way. If... man, I... you..."

"I get it," I said, moving to jump off the seat. He quickly put a hand out, stopping me.

"Wait! What I'm trying to say is..." He took a deep breath. "I love you, (Y/N). I have since we first met, actually. I just swore up and down that you didn't like me, 'cause you seemed so uninterested."

"I didn't mean to," I said, easing back into my seat and replacing the disheartened look on my face with a teasing grin. "You just suck at reading social cues."

He laughed. "So... what does this mean?"

"Well, I already told you what I think," I replied, looking down at the table.

He exhale through his nose. "I think we could make it work."

"You do?"

"Of course. First of all, that's if Guns makes it big. Second, we just gotta be willing to try, and I know I love you... what more do we need?"

I thought about it, then nodded. "You're right. Of course you're right. It would work."

"So," he said, an overly-confident smirk on his face, "wanna date?"

"My God, you're bad at this. But yeah. I mean yes. Yeah, I'll date you."

"And then I'm the one who's bad at it. Hell, you agreed."

"Shut up," I smacked his arm. We both laughed for a minute before we were joined by the rest of the band.

After being told the news, Axl gave me the biggest 'I-told-you-so/what-did-I-say' look ever, to which I lightly punched his side.

That smartass.